To the best bunch of drunken, obnoxious ass-kickers and bullet-eaters that ever emerged from a tavern!

Trivia: The US Marines were founded at the Tunn Tavern in Philadelphia. When enlistees formed up several were seen bearing drums painted bright yellow featuring a 13-segmented rattlesnake and the words "Don't Tread on Me."

Semper Fi!

=c

"The Red Baron is smart.. He never spends the whole night dancing and drinking root beer.. "-The WWI Flying Ace

My Grandfather, Wayne H. Castle, USMC WWI. His right leg was machine-gunned off early on the morning of 11 November 1918 while leading the remaining five men in his platoon across the Marne. Later he would move his family to Hollywood and work as a movie extra. If you watch Captain Blood with Errol Flynn, he's the one legged pirate getting the bag of gold for losing his leg. Art and life, huh? There's an American Legion post named for him somewher in LA; he died of cancer in 1941.

To my grandfather Commander Van Milo Kinney, of the battleship
U.S.S. Virginia WWII, i miss him, he died of complications due to alzheimers in 1987. A wondeful man who told me the most wonderful stories! Basically the only WWII stories I ever paid attention too!(including school, woops)

IED (Improvised Explosive Device) recipe
This recipe was created by 2nd Platoon, Military Police Company C, United States Marine Corps (Reserve), quote "After 2 combat tours in Iraq over the past 2 years, we decided to honor those of us injured and to toast our fellow Marines killed by IEDs in Iraq. We just developed it in the barracks and will be taking it public the night of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, November 10th [2004]."

Combine Jagermeister (smoke), Goldschlager (fragmentation), and Jose Cuervo tequila (because we had 1 Mexican in the platoon) in a highball or old-fashioned glass. After all ingredients have been combined drop some lit Bacardi 151 rum into the glass and shoot. After a couple of seconds when the intital shock has wore off you yell BAM!!

Here's to my uncle, Ken Wild, who was a medical corpsman in WWII, Pacific Theatre. He volunteered for the army at age 17! My grandparents had to sign a waiver to let him enlist at that tender age. I can't even imagine what it must have been like. Oh, the horror...

He was a big, barrel-chested jovial man. Still, he was also one of those guys who was so deeply scarred by his experience that he NEVER spoke about his experience in the war, at least not to us young'uns. He was president of the local Foreign Legion until he passed about eight years ago. Some combat vets are like that; they can only talk about what they've been through with others who've been through the same thing.

A raised toast to all current active duty, reservists, and guard members, veterans, men AND women, (and the brat's who have to put up with the constant moving )

I'm an Air Force vet, my younger brother a Navy vet, worked with many vets of all branch's, by I must say, NONE have the camaraderie like the Marines do. I have a boatload of resepect for all of them, for all they do for our country.

And, another thank you to the Patriot Guard Riders who honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Excuse me Ma'am, your going to feel a small prick._______________________________________

The History of Veterans DayDid you know that most Americans confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day? Learn the history of Veterans Day.

What Do You Know About Veterans Day?

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs.

What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov.11. It's imperative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former servicemembers properly.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

Celebrating the Veterans Day Holiday
If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday â€” Saturday or Sunday â€” the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management â€” a complete schedule can be found here. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.

United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov.11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

President Eisenhower's letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans Day National Committee
The White House Office
October 8, 1954

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.